Lol Mason

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Laurence Edward "Lol" Mason (died 30 July 2019) was a British singer songwriter and writer, who achieved fame in City Boy and The Maisonettes.

Biography

The youngest of four children to Edward J. Mason, the original scriptwriter of The Archers, Mason was born in Birmingham, educated at West House preparatory school and then Bromsgrove School. [1] His older brother, Jeremy (born March 9, 1943 – died August 20, 1989), was one of the youngest directors at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, [1] and played Richard Lord on Crossroads from 1977 to 1983. met Steve Broughton at school when they were seven years old. They began writing songs in their teens and in 1974, formed City Boy. They went to number eight in the UK in 1978 with "5.7.0.5.". [2] [3] The band, considered a one hit wonder group, disbanded in 1982.

With the breakup of City Boy, Mason formed The Maisonettes with Andy Kanavan, Nick Parry, and Mark Tibenham. Their first song, "Heartbreak Avenue", went to number seven in the UK in 1982. [4] [5] The song was certified silver in the UK, [6] and with no other singles reaching Heartbreak Avenue's success, the Maisonettes were also a one hit wonder. Mason wrote songs for many artists: wrote "There's No Easy Way" for Michael Wycoff, "True Devotion" and "Confession" for Samantha Fox, and "The Avenue" for Roll Deep.

After the breakup of The Maisonettes, Mason concentrated on script writing and, along with Dave Smith, won a Radio Times Comedy Award for their first script, Total Accident. From October 1997 to May 1998, Mason's six-part Radio 4 series, Richard Barton: General Practitioner, a homage to his father's hit series Dick Barton: Special Agent, was successful. The series had two rebroadcasts in 2015 and 2019. [7] He collaborated on the soundtrack for Oliver Stone's film Every Given Sunday. [1]

Mason retired to Harborne, and was married to Kathryn Moore, a landscape architecture professor at the University of Birmingham, for more than twenty years until his death. [1] He supported Birmingham City F.C. Mason died on 30 July 2019 aged 69 after suffering a heart attack. [1] He had undergone kidney transplant just a few weeks before. He was survived by his wife, one child, and a grandchild. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lockley, Mike (2019-08-04). "Birmingham singer Lol Mason dies at home in Harborne". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7
  3. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 13/8/1978". Official Charts. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 344. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
  5. ↑ "MAISONETTES". Official Charts. 1982-12-11. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  6. ↑ "Mariah Carey , Greatest Hits, Album". BPI. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  7. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Richard Barton: General Practitioner!". BBC. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
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